Opinion

Kimura's Disease of the Nose- an Unusual Presentation

Leena balachandar*¹ and Sana Khan²

¹Consultant Columbia Asia Hospital, India

²Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, Research Centre, India

Submission: October 05, 2017; Published: October 16, 2017

*Corresponding author: Leena balachandar, Consultant Columbia Asia Hospital, India, Tel: 9003025562; Email: leenabalachandar@gmail.com

How to cite this article: Leena B, Sana K. Kimura's Disease of the Nose- an Unusual Presentation. Glob J Oto 2017; 11(1): 555807. DOI: 10.19080/GJO.2017.11.555807

Abstract

Kimura's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of unknown etiology. Kimura et al in 1948 first reported this disease usually presents in Asian males in their 2nd to 4th decade as a mass in the head and neck region. Coexisting lymphadenopathy, Eosinophilia and raised serum IgE levels, also renal involvement in some cases. Our patient is a 49 years old male with swelling on his nose following trauma, with elevated AEC and IgE levels. Excision biopsy revealed it to be Kimura's disease. Kimura's presenting as a soft tissue swelling in nose without any nodal involvement is not common in the Indian subcontinent. We present this case for its rarity.

Keywords: Kimura; AHLE; Subcutaneous mass; Eosinophilia; IgE; Lympadenopthy

Introduction

Kimura's disease is an allergic chronic inflammatory condition of unknown etiology. Kimura et al. in 1948 reported it in literature titled "On the unusual granulation combined with hyper plastic changes of lymphatic tissue" after which this entity became widely known as Kimura's disease [1]. Usually presenting as a mass in the region of the head and neck with coexisting lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia and raised serum IgE levels. Renal involvement is its only systemic manifestation. This disease is typically present in Asian individuals in their 2nd to 4th decade of life (70-80%) [2,3]. Treatment options range from conservative observation for asymptomatic patient to surgical excision and radiotherapy for symptomatic patients.

Case Report

A 49-year-old male patient presented to our OPD with swelling on the right side of his nose. The swelling appeared consequent to trauma 10 years before presentation. Initially small and diffuse, it progressively increased overtime to its present size 3x4cm. It is a painless swelling associated with occasional watering from the right eye. There was no history of weight loss, low grade fever or night sweating. Medical, surgical and family histories were noncontributory. Physical examination revealed a 3 x 4 cm swelling extending just above the right supra orbital rim to 1cm below medial canthus. Skin over the swelling was normal except for hyper pigmentation. Patient had elevated levels of eosinophils-21%, absolute eosinophilcount- 239.4cells/mcl and serum IgE - 2541.11 IU/ml (Figures 1-8).

Renal involvement was ruled out with normal Renal Function tests and USG KUB. A computed tomography (CT) scan disclosed enhancing mass lesion at inner canthus of right eye 16mmx20mmx27mm (Ap x tr x cc) HU 68 plain and HU 99 post contrast. No evidence of erosion of underlying bone. Orbit was pushed laterally. Brain study was normal. Based on the CT an excisional biopsy was performed. Intraoperative, A curvilinear incision placed over the swelling. Mass was non encapsulated, firm in consistency, with irregular margins adherent to the skin and underlying muscles pushing the orbit laterally but not adherent to the orbit highly vascular in nature. Histopathology revealed Gross grey brown tissue measuring (Figures 1-8). L8cmx1.5cmx0.7cm. Cut surface shows gray brown areas. (2P) external surface inked. Microscopically fibrocollagenous and fibro muscular tissue devoid of lining epithelium with stroma containing reactive lymphoid aggregates with mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate rich in eosinophils. Proliferating blood vessels noted lined by plump endothelial cells surrounded by lymphoid cells and eosinophils. Sections negative for granulomas and malignancy.

Discussion

Kimura's disease (KD) is an uncommon, benign, chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology [4]. Kimura's disease typically presents as a painless subcutaneous swelling in the preauricular and submandibular regions, though involvement of the orbit, eyelids, epiglottis, axilla, forearm, groin or popliteal region has been reported [5]. Kimura's is classified as a benign reactive process, with its etiopathogenesis varying from allergic reactions, infections, and autoimmune reactions with an aberrant immune reaction [6]. Herein we present a patient with atypical manifestation of Kimura's with no renal impairment and a rare site of occurrence. An article published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology carried out a Pub Med search in 2013 using the title 'Kimura’s disease' and cases where the diagnosis was 'ALHE' or 'epitheloid haemangioma’ were excluded, found that 20 cases of Kimura's disease have been reported in the Indian population including their case [7]. Earlier Kimura’s and AHLE have been used interchangeably as two entities of the same spectrum. However, the Current evolving concepts suggest that the two conditions are distinct with relevant distinguishing features which help in correct diagnosis, knowing the course of disease and prognosis.

The patient presented in this study is an Indian male in his 4th decade with a painless swelling post trauma but with the absence of lymphadenopathy. Histologically, shows features of overlap between Kimura's and AHLE, although predominantly Kimura's disease. There were reactive lymphoid aggregates with mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate rich in eosinophils, which is a feature of Kimura’s disease, However, the presence of vascular channels with plump endothelial cells is a distinctive feature of AHLE. Characteristically, there is accompanying Peripheral blood eosinophilia, raised serum IgE levels and Raised AEC levels suggestive of Kimura's disease. AHLE is known to affect women in the 2-3rd decade without peripheral eosinophilia. CT showed an enhancing mass lesion suggestive of Haemangioma.

A syringe test demonstrated that there was no obstruction in the lacrimal passage. There was no history of eyelid surgery. Facial nerve function was unaffected. Renal ultrasound evaluation and kidney function tests were normal. The rarity of this case is because of the occurrence in non-Orientals involving the nose with no lymphadenopathy and grossly elevated IgE levels with marked eosinophilia. To the best of our knowledge one other case Praveen Kumar reported a case of a 54-year-old male resident of Bhilai, India presented swelling of the nose since 4 years and a similar swelling behind his right ear since 1 year, the diagnosis established to be Kimura’s through histopathological examination in April 2016 [8].

Recurrence has been reported in up to 25% of patients treated with surgical excision alone [9]. Given these statistics, it would be advisable to keep the patients under review for at least 3 years after initial treatment. Given that Kimura's Disease is a nonmalignant disease, radiotherapy is generally limited to cases not compliant with surgery or those who have failed medical therapies [10]. Nephrotic syndrome and renal impairment is important sequel which may affect up to 60% of patients [11]. FNAC is inadequate to diagnose the disease; most often an open biopsy is required for tissue biopsy [12]. Primary treatment for Kimura’s is surgical excision. Additional medical therapy including regional or systemic steroid therapy, cytotoxic therapy or radiation [13]. Steroids such as Cyclosporine when administered systemically, they arrests the progression of the disease due to its effects on Th2 lymphocytes [14].

Conclusion

The Diagnosis of Kimura's diseases was based on raised IgE and histopathological reports. The treatment goals are to preserve function and cosmetics while keeping the patient in follow up for recurrence and the sequel. This case is reported to make the surgeons aware of such a rare occurrence in an unusual site.

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank the patient for giving us his consent to share his details. We thank our colleagues from the Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery who provided insight and expertise that greatly helped us in reporting this case. We thank Dr. Sathish Kumar, Professor and Head of Department at Vydehi institute of medical sciences and research centre for his support and valuable comments that greatly improved the manuscript. We are also immensely grateful to the department of Pathology for their help.

References

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